D&RGW F9 No. 5771 in 2009. Note the carbody filter grille ahead of the front porthole, the only reliable distinguishing feature of an F9.
(Laura Scudder, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
EMD F9 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The EMD F9 is a 1,750 horsepower (1,300 kW) Diesel-electric locomotive produced between February 1953 and May 1960 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors (EMD) and General Motors Diesel (GMD). It succeeded the F7 model in GM-EMD's F-unit sequence. Final assembly was at GM-EMD's La Grange, Illinois plant. The F9 was also built in Canada by General Motors Diesel at their London, Ontario plant. A total of 101 cab-equipped lead A units and 156 cabless booster B units were built. The F9 was the fifth model in GM-EMD's highly successful "F" series of cab unit diesel locomotives.
An F9 can be distinguished reliably from a late F7 only by the addition of an extra filter grille ahead of the front porthole on the side panels on A units. Internally, the use of an 567C prime mover increased power to 1,750 hp (1.30 MW) from the F7's 1,500 hp (1.12 MW).
By the time cab units such as the F9 were built, railroads were turning to the road switcher-style of locomotive, and the F9 was succeeded in most part by the EMD GP9.
Engine and powertrain
The F9 used a 16-cylinder 567C series Diesel engine developing 1,750 hp (1.30 MW) at 800 rpm. The 567 was designed specifically for locomotive applications, being a 45 degree V-type two-stroke design, with 567 cu in (9.29 L) displacement per cylinder, for a total of 9,072 cu in (148.66 L). A D.C. generator powered four D37 traction motors, two on each Blomberg B truck. EMD has built all of its major components since 1939.
Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway's EMD F9A diesel locomotive 271 with F9B 276
behind at Midland Logistics Park in Midland, North Carolina on October 11, 2022.
(NCDOTcommunications, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Original buyers
Locomotives built by EMD at La Grange, Illinois
| Owner | Quantity A units | Quantity B units | Road numbers A units | Road numbers B units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electro Motive Division (demonstrator) | 1 | — | 975 | — | To NP 7050A (freight), Built 2/53 |
| Electro Motive Division (plant) | (1) | — | 462 | — | Rebuilt 5/60 from C&NW F7 6501A |
| Atlantic Coast Line | 2 | — | 317:3, 417:2 | — | Rebuilt May 1957 from wrecked F7's; same numbers. |
| Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | 18 | 18 | 281,C–289,C | 281A,B–289A,B | Freight units, operated primarily in Texas. |
| Chesapeake and Ohio Railway | 2 | 0 | 7032-7033 | Rebuilt February 1955 from wrecked F7s | |
| Chicago and North Western | — | 4 | — | 4051B–4054B | Built from trade-in FTs alongside four FP9 and rated at 1500 hp. |
| Clinchfield Railroad | — | 5 | — | 864–868 | |
| Colorado and Southern Railway | 1 | — | 700D | — | Rebuilt March 1959 from wrecked F7 |
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | 4 | 4 | 5531, 5571, 5771, 5774 | 5772, 5773, 5753, 5763 | 5571 rebuilt February 1954 from wrecked F7 and rated at 1500 hp. 5771 preserved. |
| Erie Mining Company | 5 | 6 | 100–104 | 200–205 | Now used by the Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville, Indiana. |
| Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México | 10 | 10 | 7000A–7009A | 7000B–7009B | |
| Fort Worth and Denver Railway | 1 | — | 750A | — | Rebuilt March 1959 from wrecked F7 |
| Great Northern Railway | — | 6 | — | 470B,C–474B,C (even) | |
| Kansas City Southern Railway | 2 | 2 | 58D, 74D | 55B, 70B | rebuilt from wrecked F3A,F7A,F3B F7B |
| Kansas City Southern (Louisiana and Arkansas Railway) | 1 | — | 32A | — | rebuilt from wrecked F7 |
| Louisville and Nashville Railroad | 9 | 4 | 811, 919–926 | 717–720 | 811 rebuilt from F7 |
| Milwaukee Road | 6 | 6 | 81C–86C | 81D–86D | 83c and 84c renumbered to 93c and 94A, for commuter service |
| Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad | — | 4 | — | 226B–229B | |
| Northern Pacific Railway | 30 | 30 | 7000A,D–7014A,D | 7000B,C–7014B,C | Freight units |
| Northern Pacific Railway | 8 | 2 | 6700A,C–6701A,C, 6702A–6704A, 6500C | 6700B–6701B | Passenger units |
| St. Louis-San Francisco Railway | — | 13 | — | 5140–5152 | |
| Wabash Railroad | 1 | — | 1141A | — | Rebuilt March 1959 from wrecked F7 |
| Totals | 101 | 110 |
ATSF F9A 286C (6 F9-units) near Elida, New Mexico (Carlsbad District) on March 24, 1967.
(Photo by Roger Puta, Courtesy Marty Bernard, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Locomotives built by GMD at London, Ontario
| Owner | Quantity A units | Quantity B units | Road numbers A units | Road numbers B units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian National | 0 | 38 | 6600-6637 | Passenger, ordered with FP9 | |
| Canadian Pacific | 0 | 8 | — | 1900–1907 | Passenger, ordered with FP9 |
| Totals | 0 | 46 |
BN 9814 leads an eastbound North Coast Limited at Pasco, Washington in August 1970.
(Drew Jacksich from San Jose, CA, The Republic of California, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
EMD F9 Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builders: General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD); General Motors Diesel (GMD, Canada)
Model: F9
Build date: February 1953 – May 1960
Total produced: 101 A units, 156 B units
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Trucks: Blomberg B
Wheel diameter: 40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve: 23° (250.79 ft or 76.44 m radius)
Wheelbase: 39 ft (11.89 m)
Length: A unit, 50 ft 8 in (15.44 m) B unit, 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Width: 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
Height: 15 ft (4.57 m)
Prime mover: EMD 567C
RPM range: 275-835
Engine type: V16 Two-stroke diesel
Aspiration: Roots blower
Displacement: 9,072 cu in (148.66 L; 32.70 imp gal)
Cylinders: 16
Cylinder size: 8+1⁄2 in × 10 in (216 mm × 254 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed: 65–105 mph (105–169 km/h)
Power output: 1,750 hp (1.30 MW)
Career
Locale: North America